Clover vs Epos Now
Side-by-side comparison — pricing, features, ratings, use cases. Find which Pos Systems fits you best.
🔍 Independently researched ·
📊 Data-driven
32/100
—
Small to medium retail and restaurant businesses that want an all-in-one POS with integrated payments, inventory, and em
💰 Pricing
Pricing not publicly available
Fee notes:
- Credit card processing: 2.3% + $0.10 per transaction for most plans; interchange-plus pricing available on request.
- Hardware costs: Clover Starter $349, Clover Flex $499, Clover Mini $399 (prices may vary).
- Early termination fee may apply if contract is canceled before 12 months.
- Paper statement fee: $5/month unless electronic statements are selected.
- ACH payment processing: 1% + $0.50 per transaction (if enabled).
⚠ Watch for:
- Early termination fee up to $200 or remaining monthly fees if canceled before contract term.
- Hardware purchase may be required upfront; leasing options have interest charges.
- PCI compliance fee: $25/month if you don't complete annual self-assessment questionnaire.
- Chargeback fees: $25 per chargeback.
🔧 Features
✓ Fiserv Owned✓ Smb Focus✓ Countertop Portable✓ Loyalty
📋 Assessment
💪 Strengths
- Integrated hardware and software ecosystem: Clover offers a seamless experience across countertop stations, handheld devices, and virtual terminals. All your devices sync in real time, so inventory and sales data are always up to date. This is a huge advantage if you operate both a physical storefront and an online shop, or if you do pop-up events and need a portable unit. The hardware is reliable and built to withstand daily use, with a sleek design that doesn't look out of place on a modern counter.
- Feature-rich base plans: The Standard and Advanced plans include built-in inventory management with purchase orders, employee time tracking with PIN codes, and a basic customer loyalty program. Many competitors charge extra for these features or offer them as add-on apps. For most SMBs, this reduces the need for third-party apps, saving both time and money. The inventory alerts when stock is low and allows for category management, which is particularly useful for retail.
- App Market and customization: Clover's App Market is extensive, with specialized apps for salons, barbershops, food trucks, and more. You can add features like online ordering, delivery integration, and advanced reporting. This allows you to tailor the system to your niche without buying a completely different POS. For example, a salon can use an app to manage appointments and client notes, while a fast-casual restaurant can add kitchen display screen functionality.
- Flexible form factors: With options like the compact Clover Flex for mobile payments, the countertop Station Duo for retail, and the Clover Go for the simplest card-accepting needs, you can choose the right device for your business. You can also mix and match: use a Station for the main checkout and a Flex for tableside payments or a line-busting scenario. This flexibility is rare in a single POS vendor.
- Integrated payment processing and merchant services: Since Clover is owned by Fiserv, its payment processing is robust and includes predictable flat-rate pricing options. You get fast funds, chargeback management, and fraud protection. The system is designed to work seamlessly with its own processors, so you don't have to worry about compatibility issues.
⚠ Watch out for
- Proprietary hardware can be pricey: Compared to a DIY setup with an iPad and Square Reader (which can be free or under $100), Clover's hardware costs are steep. The Station Duo runs around $1,299, and the top-of-line Station Pro is over $1,600. While you can lease to reduce upfront costs, you'll pay more over time. If you're on a tight budget, this might be a dealbreaker.
- Costs for essential features can add up: While base plans are decent, some features that many businesses consider essential require paid apps. For instance, advanced reporting (beyond basic sales summaries) costs $3.99/month per device, and age verification for age-restricted products is a paid add-on. Over a year, these small fees add up, making Clover more expensive than the sticker price suggests.
- Complex and occasionally opaque pricing structures: Clover has multiple software tiers and processing rate plans. The tiered pricing is hard to compare across resellers, and you may be locked into contracts or early termination fees. For small business owners who want simplicity, the sales process can be confusing, and you might end up paying more than you expected.
- Inconsistent customer support: Clover uses a network of resellers, and the support you get depends on the reseller you buy from. Some provide excellent, dedicated support, while others are slow to respond. Clover's own support line is available, but wait times can be long. Reviews often cite frustration with being bounced between the reseller and Clover corporate without a quick resolution.
- Proprietary ecosystem can lock you in: If you want to switch to a different POS later, you'll likely need to buy new hardware. Clover's hardware is not compatible with other software, and migrating your data (like inventory history) to a new system is often painful. This lack of portability is a consideration for long-term flexibility.
🎯 Best for
Small to medium retail and restaurant businesses that want an all-in-one POS with integrated payments, inventory, and employee tools, especially if they prefer a proprietary but polished hardware ecosystem.
🚫 Who should skip
Very small or low-volume businesses on a tight budget, or power users who want to use their own hardware and avoid lock-in to a single vendor.
📚 Learning curve
Moderate — the interface is intuitive, but setting up hardware, configuring taxes, and understanding the contract and fee structure take time.
🧑⚖️ Verdict
Clover is a fantastic choice for SMBs that want a single, integrated POS system for both in-person and online sales, appreciate the wide range of hardware options, and are willing to pay for the convenience. However, if you’re a micro-business with a few transactions a day, or you’re averse to long-
36/100
Free tier
UK-based small to medium-sized hospitality and retail businesses that want a single, integrated POS system with hardware
★ Best
💰 Pricing
🆓 Free tier available
1 register, 1 user; includes basic reporting, inventory, and customer management; supports single location.
Starting at 36 € (hybrid)
Fee notes:
- EFTPOS/credit card processing: 1.6% per transaction (UK standard) or £0.016 per transaction for debit; varies by country and plan.
- Hardware bundles start at $599 (or £499) for starter kit including register, cash drawer, receipt printer, and scanner.
- Payment processing is optional; if you use Epos Now Payments, the terminal fee may be waived.
- Annual billing discount: 2 months free (i.e., pay for 10 months).
- Currency conversion: 0.5% above interbank rate.
⚠ Watch for:
- Early termination fee: 12 months contract required for hardware; cancellation fee equals remaining lease/loan balance.
- Hardware finance: if paying via installments, APR may be up to 19.9%.
- Integrated payments: if you use third-party processors, extra fees may apply.
- Overage fees for exceeding device/user limits on Essential/Standard plans.
🔧 Features
✓ Uk Origin✓ Hospitality Retail✓ 40k Customers✓ Hardware Bundles✓ Free Tier
📋 Assessment
💪 Strengths
- All-in-One Bundles: Epos Now packages hardware and software together, including a touchscreen terminal, cash drawer, and receipt printer. This removes the headache of sourcing and integrating components separately. For a small business owner with limited technical expertise, this convenience is invaluable. You can be up and running in a day, and device compatibility is guaranteed because Epos Now selected the components.
- Integrated Payments and Fast Settlement: Using Epos Now's payment processing, transactions are automatically reconciled within the software, saving hours of manual admin. Funds can settle into your account quickly, sometimes within 24 hours, which improves cash flow. For businesses that rely on steady cash flow, this is a tangible benefit.
- Multi-Site Management: For growing chains, the ability to manage multiple locations from one dashboard is a differentiator. You can view real-time sales, track stock levels across sites, and compare performance. This centralisation is critical for operational efficiency and is not offered by all POS competitors at this price point.
- Industry-Specific Features: Epos Now tailors its software to hospitality and retail. For cafés, there's table management, split billing, and kitchen display integration. For retail, there's inventory management, purchase orders, and customer loyalty. This specialisation means the software aligns with your workflow better than a generic POS.
- Strong UK Presence and Local Support: With 40,000+ customers in the UK, the company has a robust local presence. Phone support is available, and for UK businesses, this local touch can be reassuring. Epos Now also offers industry-specific templates and integrations with popular UK services like Xero and QuickBooks.
⚠ Watch out for
- Pricing is Opaque: There is no public price list. You must request a quote, which varies based on hardware, contract length, and processing volume. This makes comparing costs between providers difficult and can lead to unexpected fees. Some users have reported significant price hikes upon renewal.
- Payment Processing Lock-in: To get the best software pricing, you are effectively required to use Epos Now's payment processing. If you opt for a third-party processor, your software fees increase, and you may lose features like integrated gift cards or loyalty. This lock-in can be a long-term cost liability.
- Inconsistent Customer Support: Reviews are polarised. While some users commend the support, many report slow response times and a lack of technical depth, especially on lower-tier plans. Over 24 hours for a response is not uncommon, and complex issues may take multiple contacts to resolve.
- Hardware Commitment and Cost: While the bundles are convenient, they can be pricey compared to sourcing your own components. Also, you're often locked into a contract, making it difficult to switch without penalties. For businesses that already own compatible hardware, this is a drawback.
- Steep Learning Curve for Advanced Features: While basic operations are easy, mastering the more advanced features like reporting, stock transfer, and loyalty programme setup can take time. The system is not as intuitive as some competitors, and training resources are mostly webinars and a knowledge base, not personalised onboarding.
🎯 Best for
UK-based small to medium-sized hospitality and retail businesses that want a single, integrated POS system with hardware, software, and payments bundled together.
🚫 Who should skip
Large enterprises with complex customisation needs, vendors that want to keep their existing payment processor, or businesses that prefer transparent pricing and the flexibility to source their own hardware.
📚 Learning curve
Moderate — familiarising yourself with menu setup, inventory management, and tax configuration takes a few days, though basic till operation is relatively simple.
🧑⚖️ Verdict
Epos Now is a solid choice for small to mid-sized retail and hospitality businesses that want a turnkey POS with integrated hardware and payments. The convenience of an all-in-one package and multi-site management are major pluses. However, the opaque pricing and payment lock-in mean you must read t
📊 Use Case Suitability
Higher score = better fit. Scores from editorial review.
Use CaseCloverEpos Now
Retail Store Checkout90—
Clover's countertop terminals, inventory tracking, and barcode scanning make it
Table-Side Restaurant Ordering85—
The portable Clover Flex and Duo devices allow waitstaff to take orders and proc
Pop-Up Shops and Markets78—
Clover's battery-powered handheld options work well for temporary events, though
Loyalty and Marketing Programs72—
Clover offers built-in loyalty tools and app integrations, but advanced campaign
Multi-Location Retail or Restaurant Chains70—
Clover supports multi-location reporting and inventory management across stores,
Café and Coffee Shop POS—85
Epos Now offers menu modifiers, table/bar tabs, tip management, and integrated p
Boutique Retail Store Inventory Management—78
It provides barcode scanning, stock level tracking, purchase orders, and supplie
Multi-location Restaurant Chain—82
The multi-site dashboard allows centralised reporting, menu updates, and stock t
🧭 Which One Should You Pick?
Choose Clover if...
- You are: Small to medium retail and restaurant businesses that want an all-in-one POS with integrated payments, inventory, and em
- 👍 Integrated hardware and software with multiple form factors (countertop, handheld, virtual) from one
- 👍 Feature-rich base plans include inventory, purchase orders, employee management, and loyalty, so mos
- 👍 App marketplace offers many specialized add-ons for niche industries like salons, bars, and food tru
- ⚠ Trade-off: Proprietary hardware is more expensive than using an iPad with Square or a low-c
Choose Epos Now if...
- You are: UK-based small to medium-sized hospitality and retail businesses that want a single, integrated POS system with hardware
- 👍 All-in-one bundles include hardware (terminal, cash drawer, printer) and software, making setup easy
- 👍 Strong UK market presence with over 40,000 customers, local phone support, and industry-specific fea
- 👍 Integrated payments allow fast reconciliation, and funds can settle quickly into your business accou
- 💰 From $39/mo
- ⚠ Trade-off: Pricing is not transparent — there are no public price lists, and quotes vary ba
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Clover really free to use?
The Price shown as 'Free' refers to the base software download, but Clover requires proprietary hardware and a paid service plan. You'll pay monthly software fees, payment processing rates, and hardware costs unless you lease or finance.
Can I switch to Clover from Square easily?
You can migrate customer and item data to Clover via CSV import or with assistance from a Clover reseller, but the process isn't fully automated. You'll also need to purchase or lease new hardware, and you may incur early termination fees on your previous POS contract.
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